Where a Wi-Fi QR code earns its keep
- Cafés and restaurants — a small card on the table ends the "what's the wifi password?" conversation for good
- Hotels and rentals — guests connect the moment they walk in, with no reception queue
- Offices — a guest network code by the meeting-room door
- At home — stick it inside a cupboard door and never dictate a 20-character password again
- Events — put it on the badge or the programme
A practical tip: keep a guest network separate from your main one and share only the guest code. Anyone who scans it gets internet, not access to your printer, NAS or smart-home devices.
Which phones support it
| Device | How to scan |
|---|---|
| iPhone (iOS 11+) | Point the Camera app at it — a "Join Network" banner appears |
| Android 10+ | Camera app, or Settings → Wi-Fi → the QR icon |
| Older Android | Most manufacturers' camera apps handle it; otherwise a QR reader app works |
If nothing happens when a phone scans the code, the usual cause is a mistyped password or the wrong security type. WPA/WPA2/WPA3 is correct for nearly every modern network.
Security: what you are actually sharing
Be clear about one thing: a Wi-Fi QR code contains your password in readable form. Anyone who scans it, or photographs it, has the password. That is not a flaw in the format — it is how it works. Which means:
- Do not publish your main network's code where the public can see it
- Use a guest network for anything printed and left on a table
- Change the guest password from time to time and reprint the code — it takes seconds and costs nothing here
On our side, nothing is stored: your password is turned into a pattern inside your browser and goes nowhere else.
How to create a Wi-Fi QR code
- Enter the network nameType the SSID exactly as it appears in your Wi-Fi list, including capitalisation.
- Enter the passwordType it carefully — one wrong character and the code will not connect.
- Choose the security typeWPA/WPA2/WPA3 for almost all modern networks. Pick "No password" only for genuinely open networks.
- Test itScan the code from the screen with a phone that is not already on the network.
- Print itDownload the SVG or PDF and print it at a size where the code is at least 2 cm across.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to type my password here?
Yes. Encoding runs entirely in your browser and your password is never sent to any server. If you want to be certain, disconnect from the internet and try using the page — it keeps working.
Does it work on iPhone?
Yes, from iOS 11 onwards. The built-in Camera app recognises the code and offers to join the network.
My network is hidden — does that matter?
Tick the "Hidden network" box. That flag tells the phone the SSID is not broadcast, which some devices need in order to connect.
What if my password contains special characters?
Semicolons, commas, colons and backslashes are escaped automatically to keep the format valid. Type your password exactly as it is.
How small can I print it?
Keep it at least 2 cm across for a code held at reading distance. Below that, phone cameras start to struggle, especially in low light.